David John Ludlum, cared for others
David “Dave” John Ludlum passed peacefully at home in his sleep Monday, March 31, 2025.
Dave was a big man with an even bigger heart, and the empty space he leaves behind is far, far too vast to measure. His friends and family will miss his fierce intelligence and unflinching integrity. They’ll miss how much he cared for the people he loved, and the many ways he found to take care of them.
Born in Bronxville, N.Y., May 11, 1965, Dave lived in Westchester County, N.Y., until early adulthood. After graduating from high school, he brought his steady work ethic to a handful of unusual endeavors, from hawking stereo equipment to making deliveries for an undertaker. For several years, Dave worked as a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service before deciding to pursue higher education. He completed an undergraduate degree in economics at Marist College, followed by a master’s degree in business administration at Iona College.
In 1995, Dave accepted a job as an economist with the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. He spent the better part of three decades conducting and leading applied research that made the income tax system fairer and easier to understand. Though he received numerous awards throughout his career, what mattered most to Dave was helping his colleagues and doing work that made a difference. He retired in 2022, proud of his many years of service to the American people. It was while working at the IRS that Dave met his wife, Melissa “Missy” Ludlum. They married in 2002.
Ever a New Yorker at heart, Dave couldn’t pass up a good slice or a well-made bagel. He loved the Yankees and never tired of seeing Springsteen live. He never met a problem that couldn’t be solved or a person who wasn’t worth helping. He loved cooking. But more than that, he loved cooking for the people whom he loved.
Dave had a deep-rooted faith in justice and a soft spot for underdogs. When somebody needed him, he didn’t say “no.” Over the years, he rescued five cats and two dogs, including a misanthropic orange tabby named Loo, who made trouble for 22 years before eventually passing in 2023. Loo was Dave’s kindred spirit.
Dave loved to feel the sunlight on his face. It never burned him, even after hours on the beach or in the pool. He could smell salt air from a mile away, and the scent never once lost its novelty. In 2020, he and Missy moved to Milton, just up the street from Lewes and Rehoboth beaches. In his new hometown, Dave continued perfecting his cooking, looking out for his family and friends, and began serving as treasurer on the Community ESL Advisory Board.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Edward Ludlum and Margaret Mary Ludlum (née Holler) of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. He is survived by his brother, Charles Ludlum Jr. and wife Martha of Moscow, Pa., and their family. Dave is also survived by aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins. He also leaves behind his wife, Missy, whom he loved and looked after every minute of their nearly 23-year marriage. His two heartbroken black lab mixes, Cash and Carter, already miss his home-cooked meals and reckless roughhousing.
Dave was the best sort of man.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 3, at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 7 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m.
Invitations are forthcoming for a May 11 bonfire on Lewes Beach to celebrate Dave’s 60th birthday.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA in Georgetown or the Community ESL Program hosted by LCOS in Rehoboth Beach.
Visit Dave’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
